Apparatus for hacking bricks



w. L. HANLE Y, JR- APPARATUS FOR HACKING BRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPLZI, I920- Patented Apr. 18

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A am By QM ATTORNEY w. L. HANLEY, JR- APPARATUS FOR HACKING BRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED SEP'LZII [920 1,413,402. ed Apr- 18, 1922. 3 $"EETS-SHEET 2.

nu/Emma?Br ATTORNEY W. L. HANLEY, JR. APPARATUS FOR HACKING BRICKS. APPLICATION FlLE DSEPT- Zh I920- 1,413,402, Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

(E INVENTOR Y A TTORNEY arraiaarns roe; HAoKr ve BRICKS,

1 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LjllAlfIL EY, Jr.-,, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Bradford, in the county of McKee-n and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Ap- V paratus for Hacking Bricks; and I do heretures hereinafter described, reference being 7 port the green tageously it IS customary by declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in'the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, I I ,7

My invention consists in the novel feah'adcto the accompanying drawings wh ch illustrate one embodiment otthe invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following; description and cla ms,

in the. commercial production of bricks,

after the tormation'of the bricks trommoist clay in any'desired manner, theyare ordinarily placed on cars and conveyed to ;a drier, where alarge percentage of the teamsture is evaporated, after which the bricks are fired in suitable kilns. In orderto transin a plurality of layers, one above another, the layers each comprising, a plurality of closely arranged parallel rows, the rows of each layer extending perpendicularly to those of the adjacent layer above or below, each brick of each row in each layer above the bottom layer resting upontwo bricks ot the layer below it; The rows of bricksin, each layer are ordinarily'spaced adistance apart to afford opportunity for the passage of air throughthe'pi-leof bricks to facilitate.

The placing of thebricks n this 7 l V in the art hacking and is performed by hand labor,

' each individual brick being picked up by the hand of the operator and placed in position. In every brick plant aconsiderdrying. built up iorniation is termed able number of hackers are always required to handle the bricks I by; hand from the pup; mill or other brick making apparatus and place thenron trucks'or cars inthe formation indicated", in-which'the'y can or moist bricks advan to arrange them Specification of Lat rateiit P gtgfited A 1 Application filed September 21, 1920; seriariro. 411;?64.

'The object of my inventionis to provide mechanical means for hacking bricks, by

means of which a great reduction in the number of operatives required is effected, thus very materially reducing thecostot the brick per thousand, and eliminating the use i of skilled labor for this purpose; j in carryin-g out invention, I employ a number'o't receiving frames each having parallel 'chan} enel's adapted to receiv'e a "singlelayer-lot bricks in parallel spaced rows/covering an area substantially that of the car, or truck, or other supporting snrface upon which the bricks are to be hacked; Eachfraime isprO vided with means for clamping :the bricks 'trictionally so asto permit the name tofbe' lifted with the contained bricks, andto be in- .verted if desired asin handling faced bricks;

Ini connectioniwith the frames l prefer to employ a traveling hoist or crane for lift-,

ingthe frame when loaded and carrying it to a point above the car, truck, or platform, and depositing the entire layer of bricks thereon :or upon a previously placed "layer, 1 the proper perpendicular relation between the rows of adjacent layers being conven iently obtained by providingthe hoist with v a swivel or turntable-so that alternatellayers can be placed with their rows perpen'dicu lar toeach other. "The empty trame is sup-.

portedupon. a suitable standorta ble adjg 'f cent to the carrying-off conveyor which re ceives the bricks from the brick machine? and they canfbe readily pushed into the channels with which the [receiving frame is I provideduntil all its channels are filled,"

when the bricks are clamped in v the frame and locked. While one frame sb'eing'filled, another'frame is being carried over the car and'lowered upon it, or upon the topmost layer of bricks thereon, and after releasing the bricks the frame is lifted'oft'and re-' turned to the filling stand. The handling ot' the bricks is thus reduced to a minimum and the hacking can be effected by a greatly reduced number of men.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. i represents a plan view of one form of hacking or receiving frame, for carrying out my invention, selected by me for purposes of illustration, the bricks being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the receiving sid frame, showing the bricks in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view of the frame showing in dotted lines the position of the bricks, the locking devices being shown. in released position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of Fig. 3, showing the locking devices in locking position.

l is a detail of a the clamping bars.

Fig. 5 is a partial rear elevation of the portion of one of frame showing the means for simultaneousl operating and securing the locking devices.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the operation of hacking. 7

My improved hacking frame comprises in the preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the side plates 1, 1, preferably in the form of channel bars as shown, to give the required strength, and the end plates 2 and 3, bolted on the side plates. The end plate 2, at he receiving end of the frame, which I call the front end plate, is provided with a series of downwai'dly extending arms 4 which are bolted to stationary partition plates 5, said partition plates being located a greater than the width of two bricks. he front end plate is also provided with a plurality of hangers 6 located centrally of the snaces formed by said partition plates, said hangers being provided with bearing apertures for the trunnions 7 of the clamping bars 8. The rear end plate 3 is preferably a solid plate provided with bearing apertures for the trunnions 7 of the clamping bars, and the partition plates are securely bolted or screwed to the end plate 3.

The trunnions T of the clamping bars are extended through the end. plate 3, and are provided with pinions 9' (see Fig. 6), all of which engage a transversely sliding rack 10, held in place by brackets 11 secured to the end plate 3, and having downwardly extending arms 12 provided with projections 13 extending into a guiding groove 10 in the outer face of the rack bar 10'. By moving the rack bar longitudinally all of the clamping bars may be moved into and out of clamping position. I prefer to actuate the rack bar by means of a hand lever 14 (see Fig. 5) mounted in a bracket 15 secured to the end plate 3 and provided with a yoke 16 engaging a stud 17 on the rack bar, the lever distance apart,

14. being provided with a locking pawl 18 for engaging a ratchet segment 19 secured to the bracket 15, or formed integrally therewith, for holding said lever locked when the clamping bars have been moved to clamping position.

The pivotally mounted clamping bars 8 are preferably provided on opposite sides with means for yieldingly clamping each individual. brick, consisting in this instance of spring clamping plates 8 rigidly secured to the opposite faces of the bar, the spring plates on one side extending in one direction, and those on the opposite side extending in the opposite direction. Each clamping plate is preferably of about the length of a single brick, and the plates are so located longitudinally of the bar that when the frame is filled and the clamping bars are turned to clamp the bricks, each clamping plate will engage only one brick, the yielding character of the plates enabling them to accommodate themselves to any slight variations in the thickness of individ ual bricks,or any irregularities, in the surfaces thereof. The clamping bars when turned to vertical or inoperative positionact as partition members and divide the space between the permanent bars of the frame into channels on opposite sides of eachclamping bar, of greater width than that of a brick. In this position, indicated in dotted. lines in Fig. 4-, and in full lines in Fig. 3, the lateral faces of the clamping bars and their spring clamping plates will assist in guiding the bricks into the chan nels or spaces between the clamping bars and stationary bars of the frames .Vhen the clamping bars are turned to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 4:. the spring plates 8 are brought into frictional contact with the faces of the bricks of the two rows on opposite sides of the clamping bar and force the bricks against the adjacent partition bars (or side l). The bricks will be firmly held in position in the frame when the clamping bars are turned into clamping position and locked, as the amount of surface of each brick frictionally engaged by the stationary frame bars, and the spring plates 8 of the clamping bars, is more than sufficient to raise the weight of the brick, without exerting any greatamount I In lifting the bricks on frictional contact than of pressure upon them. I depend more pressure, and the fact that the bricks are green (moist) enables me to more readily clamp and raise them. Each brick is held'by an independently yielding grip and this insures the lifting of all the bricks in the frame. 7

' Each frame is designed to lift a number of rows of bricks, each row/containing a number of individual bricks. In the selected embodiment illustrated herein the frame is Til constructed to accommodate ten rows, of four bricks each, or forty bricks, constituting a single layer. It is obvious that the number of rows and the number of bricks in each row may be varied, but it is obvious that the shape and area of the frame should approximate that of the surface of the truck or car, or other supporting surface upon which the bricks are to be piled or Fhacked. It will also be understood that when the frame is filled it will preferably be placed upon a smooth supporting surface or table, usually a metal plate, the surface of which may be greased if desired, in any usual or preferred manner, and the bricks are slid endwiseinto the channels or spaces between the stationary bars 1 and 5 and the clamping bars, until all the spaces are filled, the bricks being inserted at the side adjacent to the end bar 2, which facilitates their introductioninto the frame, while the solid rear end bar 3 acts as a stop for each row of bricks as they are inserted. As soon as the frame is filled the lever 14 is actuated and locked, thus clamping all of the bricks in the frame, and-the frame is -readytobe lifted and transported to a position over the surface. v bricks are spaced apart by the partitionbars 5 of the frame, the bricks in each row being ordinarily in contact with each other, at the ends. upon t-he" truck or car or other supporting surface (or upon a-previously placed layer of bricks) the, clamping lever 14 is released and thrown .into a-positionto release the clamping simply lifted clear of the bricks, leaving them placed and spaced as they were in the frame.

truck, car, or other supporting weight of the frame and load, and are pref.

as to permit of inverterably so arranged ing the frame in the bail. In handling so called faced brick which has 'had a very smooth. finish imparted to oneface of each brick, which is to form the exterior face when laid, it is necessary in hacking the green?-bricks that the smooth faces of one layer shall come into contact with the smooth faces of the next layer; as otherwise the.

smooth faces would be marred. I therefore prefer to form the bail and trunnions of the frame so that the. frame can be invertedwhile suspended by the b-ail, so that after one layer has been deposited for example with the smooth face up, the layer carried It will be noted that they rows of When the frame is lowered bars 8, after which the frame is As before stated, the successive lay,- V ers of bricks are placed at right. angles to the frame provided withv by the next frame, which will come in the same position from the brickmachine, can be inverted after the bricks are locked in the frame. The frame-is also turned a quar ter of a circle horizontally, and thusthe next layer "can be placed with the smooth faces down upon the smooth upper facesof a previous layer. In transporting the frame by means of'the hoist it'c'an be steadied by the hand of theoperator although this is not necessary as the frame will remain in' balanced condition in the bail.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a convenient arrangement of apparatus for filling and handling the hacking frames. 30 represents an endless" conveyor, or bearing off belt-for carrying the bricks from the pug mill, or

other devices, by"m eans of which the bricks. are formed. 31 represents a table, preferably provided with an inclinedtop plate 32 of metal or other suitable material, sloping from the level of the belt 30 downward, and adapted to receive a frame or frames, into which the bricksare slid from the conveyoruntil the frame is filled. 33 represents a traveling. hoist of any usual or pre- 1 ferred, type, preferably an electric hoist, to

which -is attach'edfthe lifting bail 3%,con

nected to the hoist throughpa swivelfo r turntable of any well known or preferred construction, so that the alternate framescan be turned at right angles to their positions upon' the filling table. It will 'be understoodthata numberof frames will be employed and whileone frame is being filhed another will be lifted byme'ans of the hoist andjbail i and moved over the truck and rotated 90. degrees (and inverted if necessary), so as tov depositthe-successive layers of bricks upon the truck or car, for i example, indicated at 36. i As soon as a truck is loaded it is moved alongsuitable tracks to the drying room or chamber, where the bricks are dried anydesired manner..

It willibe seenthatfthe bricks can readily and accurately hacked, or piled {in g the desired c'riss cross 'manner, with the proper spacesfor. the passage of airbetween them, byfill-ing'the frames anddepositing f l l5 7 scribed. Itwill also be seen that veryfew an entire layer at a time in the. manner. de-

operatives are required and'there is very; little handling of the bricks by hand which 7 notonly reduces ve1'yi materiallytlie labor]. required, but also obviates the injury to the.

green bricks, and thus reducesmaterially the cost of manufacture. r

What I claim and desirelto secure "by Letters Patentis 1.,In apparatus for hacking frame comprising side frames, :a front end bar provided with depend-ing par- *hackiiig bricks, 1

tition supports and intermediate hangers, a

rear'endfbar forming a stop forthe entering rows of bricks, partition bars r1'g1 dly secured ed in said hangers and the bar. pinions connected with said bars oscillating clamping bars p rear end clamping bais, a rack bar engaging sa1d pinions, an operating lever for shifting said rack endwise, and locking means for boldmg i d clamping bars in operative pos tion.

2. ln apparatus for hacking bricks, a ing frame COlllpFlSlllQ side frames, a mt end bar provided with depending partition sports and intermediate hangers, a forming a s op for the enter- -'s of bricks, part tion bars rigidly i 11 said end bars. oscillating clampbars pivotally mounted in said hangers and the rear end bar, pinions connected with 1pm bars, a rack bar engaging said piuions, an operating lever for shifting said rack endwise, and a locki device engaging said lever and holding said clamping bars in operative position.

3. in apparatus for hacking bricks, the combii .tion with a horizontal frame for receiving any nti re horizontal layer of bricks and provided with parallel channels open at the bottom, arranged to =eceive parallel rows of bricks in proper spaced relation f on each other, clamping means for temporarily clamping the green bricks in said frame, locking means for said clamping means, and and transporting mechanism for lifting said frame and depositing it upon a supporting surface, said lifting and transport in {j mechanism eing provided with means for permi ting the inversion of the frame while suspended by said lifting and trans porting mechanism.

4-. in ai iparatus for hacking bricks, the combination with a horizontal frame for receiving an entire horizontal layer of bricks and provided with parallel channels open at the bottom, arranged to receive parallel rows of bricks in proper spaced relation from each other, clamping means for temporarily clamping the green bricks in said frame, locking means for said clamping means, and lifting and transporting mechanism for lifting srid frame and depositing it upon a supporting surface, including a lifting bail having ahorizontally pivotal connection with the frame, said bail being constructed to permit the frame to b invcrted therein by swinging it upon said pivotal connection to enable faced bricks to be placed with their smooth faces in contact.

ln apparatus for hacking bricks, the combination with a lifting frame provided with parallel channels open at the bottom and at one end of the frame, for receiving an entire horizontal. layer of bricks, means for simultaneously clamping all of said bricks in said channels, said frame being provided with horizontally disposed and central locking trimnions, and a lifting bail cu pended from the bail to permit ed br' :ks to be placed with their smooth s i. contact.

6. ln apparatus for hacking bricks, the combination with a horizontal frame provided with parallel stationary members forming parallel channels open at thebottom, a pivotally mounted clamping bar extending transversely and centrally through each of said channels and dividing them into channels for receiving single rows of bricks, each of said clamping bars being provided with yielding clamping faces for engaging individual bricks of said rows, said clamping faces being arranged on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the clamping bar and extending in opposite directions therefrom, and means for oscillating said clamping bars and holding them in clamped position.

7. In apparatus for hacking bricks, the combination With a horizontal frame provided with parallel stationary members forming parallel channels open at the bottom, a. pivotally mounted clamping bar extending transversely and centrally through each of said channels and dividing them into channels for receiving single rows of bricks, each of said clampingb-ars being provided with yielding clamping faces for engaging individual bricks of said rows, said clamp ing faces being arranged on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of the clamping bar and extending in opposite direction therefrom, actuating means for simultaneously oscillating all of said clamping bars, and looking means for said actuating means.

8. in apiaratus for hacking bricks, the combination with a horizontal frame provided with stationary parallel frame mem bers forming channels of greater width than two parallel rows of bricks, said channels be ing open at the bottom and also open at one end of the frame, an oscillating clamping bar pirotally supported. centrally of each of said channels, and dividing them into two channels for the reception of two rows of bricks, spring clamping plates for en aging indi- 1 vidual bricks secured toeach clamping bar on opposite sides of its pivotal axis, the clamping plates on one side of the bar extending in the opposite direction from the clamping plates on the other side of the bar, and means for oscillating the clamping bars and holding them in clamping position.

9. In apparatus for hacking bricks, the combination with a horizontal frame provided with stationary parallel frame members forming channels of greater width than two parallel rows of bricks, said channels being open at the bottom and also open at one end of the frame, an oscillating clamp-in bar pivot-ally supported centrally of eac bricks, spring clamping of said channels, and dividing them into two channels for the reception of two rows of plates for engaging individual bricks secured to each clamping bar on opposite sides of its pivotal axis, the clamping plates on one side of the bar extending in the opposite direction from the clamping plates on the other side of the bar, and means for oscillating the clamping bars and holding them in clamping position, a lifting bailpivotally connected centrally to said frame and constructed to permit the frame to be inverted while suspended from said bail to permit faced bricks to be placed with the smooth faces of superimposed layers in contact.

10. The herein described process of hacking bricks, which consists in placing the brick in parallel rows in a single horizontal layer of the area of the pile to be made, lift; ing the entire horizontal layer simultaneously, inverting said layer, and placing it face downward upon a previously placed layer.

11. ing bricks, bricks in parallel rows in a single horizon tal layer of the area of the pile to be made, lifting the entire horizontal layer simultaneously, inverting said layer, and placing it upon a previously placed horizontal layer, with the rows of bricks in the superposed layer at right angles to those of the layer below. 7

12. The herein described process of hacking bricks, which consists in placing bricks The herein described process of backwhich consists in placing thein parallel rows in a single horizontal layer L of the area of the pile to be made, lifting the entire horizontal layer simultaneously, swinging the entire layer horizontally through an arc of at least 90, inverting said layer and placing it upon a previously placed horizontal layer, with the bricks at right angles thereto.

13. The herein described process for hacking faced bricks, which consists in placing the faced bricks in parallel rows in horizontal layers of the area of the pile to be made, with the faced portions thereof in the same horizontal plane, lifting all the bricks in each layer simultaneously, and depositing them, one layer upon another, and inverting alternate layers so as to bring the faced portions of the bricks of with the faced portions of the bricks of another layer.

one layer into contact 14.- .The herein described process for hack- I 7 ing faced bricks, which consists in placing the faced bricks in parallel rows in horizon tal layers of the area of the pile to be made with the faced portions thereof in the same horizontal plane, each layer simultaneously, and depositing them, one layer upon another, invertingv alternate layers and swinging alternate layers horizontally through an, arc of at lifting all the bricks in I least 90 to bring the faced portions of the bricks of one layers into contact with the faced portions of another layer, and disposed at right angles thereto.

In testimony whereof I affixmy si 'nature.

WILLIAM LEE HANLEir, JR: 

